Dairy farms grazing pastures that have been waterlogged over the winter should be mindful of potential mineral imbalances and their impact on the reproductive performance of cows and heifers. This is the advice of Rumenco’s Technical Services Manager Dr Alison Bond, who says that the anaerobic soil conditions resulting from flooding will have interfered with […]
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A new national survey has been launched to assess how colostrum is managed on UK beef and dairy farms and identify opportunities for improvement, following recent data highlighting gaps in passive transfer¹. Run by Red Stag Media in conjunction with MSD Animal Health, the colostrum survey aims to build a clearer picture of on-farm practices, […]
Read ArticleA powerful new DEFRA-approved disinfectant designed to help farmers protect livestock and strengthen on-farm biosecurity has been launched by Roam Technology. Virox is a broad-spectrum surface disinfectant that effectively eliminates bacteria, viruses, yeasts and fungi while meeting the strictest European EN standards. Developed for use across livestock systems, the product forms part of Roam Technology’s […]
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Sheep farmers are being urged to take part in an industry-wide lambing survey this spring to help build a clearer picture of the challenges facing the sector, from disease threats and vaccine supply issues to unpredictable weather and other emerging pressures. The UK Lambing Survey 2026 is being led by the University of Nottingham and […]
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Farmers turning cows out to grass are being urged to check trace element balance in dry cows, after goitre was listed among the top 10 abortion diagnoses recorded by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) between April and June last year (2025)1. Paddy Gordon, veterinary surgeon at Shepton Vets, says farmers should be aware […]
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Variable weather patterns and waning maternal immunity could leave lambs exposed to deadly clostridial diseases this spring, prompting experts to urge farmers to review vaccination protocols to protect youngstock. “Lambs are born without antibodies and rely entirely on immunity from their mother’s colostrum, which starts to fade after just a few weeks,” explains MSD Animal […]
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Finding small ways to make milk mixing and calf management easier could make all the difference in the calf shed, easing labour input and boosting overall calf performance. Alan Smith, Business Manager for Feed For Growth (Volac Milk Replacers Limited), believes targeted investment in equipment and forward planning will pay dividends on any calf unit. […]
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UK pig producers are being urged to take part in a short industry survey designed to assess how prepared farms are to deal with major disease threats such as African Swine Fever (ASF). The five-minute survey, launched by Roam Technology, a global, science-driven specialist in hygiene, disinfection and performance solutions, aims to build a clearer […]
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Feeding biologically active nutritional supplements that have been proven to reduce scours and BRD in calves could help bolster disease prevention strategies on many UK dairy and beef units. So says Rumenco Technical Services Manager Dr Alison Bond, who highlights the continuing impact of these two most damaging diseases whilst stressing the importance of a […]
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One of the wettest starts to the year on record is raising fresh concerns about mineral deficiencies in grazing livestock this spring, with advisers warning farmers to assess trace element status carefully ahead of turnout. Met Office data shows the UK as a whole recorded 17% more rainfall than the long-term meteorological average in January, […]
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Reducing antibiotic use in calves could represent a significant opportunity for dairy farmers to cut overall antimicrobial usage, according to the latest industry data¹², which highlights oral antibiotics as a growing contributor to on-farm antibiotic use. Figures released by RUMA at the end of 20251 show that calf oral antibiotic sales more than doubled in […]
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A 2025 trial at Harper Adams University has found that Lamlac milk replacer, mixed and fed cold to surplus lambs from eight days of age, has delivered strong daily growth rates and enabled lambs to meet target weaning weight at 35 days of age. The trial highlighted that lambs fed cold milk from day eight […]
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